12:17 | Lima, Sep. 30 (ANDINA).
His Majesty King Abdullah will take part in the III Summit of South American and Arab Countries (ASPA), scheduled to start on Monday in Peru, as well as deliver speech and meet a number of leaders.
On Friday, the King concluded an official visit to the US, during which he took part in the 67th UN General Assembly session, held in New York, according to a Royal Court statement.
He is due to deliver a speech at ASPA and meet a number of leaders on the sidelines of the summit, which will provide a platform for political coordination between Arab and South American countries.
The forum is also an opportunity to improve cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education, technology, tourism and environment, and contribute to entrenching global peace, a Royal Court statement said.
In a statement to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh underlined the significance of ASPA in developing ties between South American countries and Arab states.
During King Abdullah’s opening address at the General Assembly, he warned against attempts to erase the Arab, Muslim, or Christian identity of Jerusalem or invade Al Aqsa Mosque, urging the international community to send a clear message that any such transgressions will not be tolerated.
Touching on the “tragic situation” in Syria, the King stressed that “violence must end immediately and a transition must begin now”, noting that there is no alternative for a political solution that “will end the bloodshed, restore security and stability, and preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and the dignity and unity of its people”.
His Majesty also highlighted the impact of hosting over 200,000 Syrian refugees on Jordan’s scarce resources.
He reiterated that the current challenges facing the world should not make the international community lose focus “on the crisis at the heart of the region” — the Palestinian cause.
The King also condemned any act that vilifies the name of Prophet Mohammad, Islam or any other religion or uses them to justify violence.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, King Abdullah held a series of meetings with a number of country leaders and heads of delegation taking part in the session, in addition to economic, intellectual and media figures in New York.
The King also met separately with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and discussed the Syrian crisis and its effect on the future of the region, highlighting the need to support Brahimi in his endeavours.
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Published: 9/30/2012